ALBAWABA - Publishing company Viz Media recently revealed an upcoming manga titled 'Half Is More,' which will follow a unique story of what it's like to be half Black and half Japanese in Japan's current society.
Created by author Yoiko Fujimi, the first volume of Half Is More is expected to hit stores in Summer 2026. According to Viz Media, the upcoming manga is about "Being mixed-race in Japan like Kazumi means facing daily trials of racism, microaggressions, and otherness. This is a journey of resilience, hope, and the search for coexistence."
While many manga fans expressed their excitement about the publication, calling it unique and a breath of fresh air, many others had a different opinion, describing it as an industry plant and "DEI woke propaganda."
Mixed-race manga 'Half Is More' sparks controversy and racism
A social media user wrote under Viz Media's announcement post on X (formerly Twitter), "WHAT I NEVER EXPECTED THIS TO GET PICKED UP IM SO EXCITED."
Moreover, a different user wrote, "Klan rally in the comments upset about this being made so we WILL be supporting. Always nice to get different sorts of stories that reflect changing demographics. Thank you for putting this one on my radar."
In contrast, another user wasn't as keen and wrote, "Shut up. Everyone is so sick and tired of this garbage."
Another said, "Why are you putting out a release of slop with literally no audience, which had to go on hiatus for lack of engagement, instead of media which people are actually interested in? Clearly you don’t care about the market or your customers, and only care about your agenda."
A different user wrote in response to Viz Media's post, "It's called "Half is More" and let me tell you, as a biracial Asian person, that is so cringe it makes me want to kill myself."
Upon the announcement, some social media users started flooding platforms with racist edits of the manga's cover by adding stereotypical edits like the character holding a fried chicken with exaggerated lips.
Half Is More tells the story of two siblings, born to a French black father and a Japanese mother, as they navigate their day-to-day life in Japan. According to social media reports, the author Yoiko Fujimi said that the story is inspired by their friend who had to deal with racism and discrimination in Japan because of their mixed race.
Viz Media announced the upcoming manga on October 17, and even one week after its reveal, controversy still surrounds the title.
